Hello!

My name is Ally Bean and this is my personal blog answering the question: "What up, Buttercup?" I'm here at least once a week-- unless, of course, I'm not. And yes, I wear eyeglasses. Spectacles, if you will.

Please Note

“I am not always good and noble. I am the hero of this story, but I have my off moments.”

Zen-Den, I know how much you like to feed goats and this little herd was super friendly, living the high life there in the middle of the garden nursery. Young’s was fun back in the day, when the farm cats tried to sneak into store & the goats were ever hungry. Now… it’s gimmicky. *sigh*

LA, you’re a woman after my own heart! These little goats were adorable and about as sweet-natured as a goat can be. I’d have stayed all afternoon feeding them, but I had an appointment to get to… so I left them to fend for themselves.

Becky, you made me laugh out loud! You and your puppy will no doubt be good buddies, probably a closer friendship than you’d have with a goat. But in your next life, I can see you in the role of herder of goats. 👀

I would 1000% without question feed them from my hand – and swoon from their adorability and nibble-y goat lips. How clever to have installed a chow dispenser to promote greater goat love! And I just bet your unplanned expedition made for a better appointment following it. That’s the magic of goat goodness!!!

Deborah, I did swoon a little bit. I must admit that their cuteness almost did me in. I’ve been to places with goats + dispensers that required 25¢ to get a handful of goat chow. But this garden nursery wasn’t trying to get rich off the goats, the goats were there for their pure goat goodness magic!

I’m not sure I’d let them eat of my hand, but with that one goat nosily pointing out the Purell… maybe. Of course, I have Wet Ones in the car, too. 🙂 That lil’ guy is quite the actor, too. That one pic is sooooo him doing Gary Coleman in Dif’rent Strokes.

Tara, yes the first goat who greeted me as I came down the path was clearly The Host of The Goat Show. He paused so that I could snap a pic, then walked me down to the dispenser where he helpfully pointed out the Purell. He knew his audience, just like Gary Coleman, now that you mention it.

Beth, I knew you’d be a sucker for feeding goats from your hand. I hadn’t thought of the “kid” connection but you are right. I’d have stood there longer feeding them, and scratching the tops of their heads, but I had to get going. Maybe another day…

No question, out of my hand. I would try to hug them too hoping they don’t bite. Love the Purell. Do that goats want you to clean your hands first? Maybe they don’t want any people germs! 🙂 BTW I’d totally miss my appointment if I came upon this.

Kate, I hadn’t thought of the idea that the goat wanted me to clean my hand first before feeding him. Do you suppose he was a germaphobic goat? Oh my… well, he got his chow from my *dirty* hand and suspect he lived to tell. I had my eye on the clock, so I did make my appointment but have made a mental note to re-visit this garden nursery soon.

Lynn, I had to pull myself away from the herd because I had to get to my appointment, but the next time I visit this garden nursery [and there will be another visit] I’ll plan to stay a while. Goats are too cute, must feed them..

How fun! I’ve been to places where you can BUY feed for goats (and goldfish) . . . provided that you have the right change in your pocket (which I never do) . . . but I’ve never been anywhere where I could feed the goats for FREE. Way cool!

nancy, I’ve always paid for the privilege of feeding goats, too. But this place, you just turned the crank and out came the chow. As my photos show, no goat was malnourished so I imagine that the goats like the freebie machine, too.

I LOVE goats. They are so darn cute. I admit to being one of those people who will watch goat videos because they make me laugh out loud.
… but miniature goats! I’ve never seen those and they sound even cuter … especially since they KNOW where the food is and direct you to it 😆
How could anyone resist?! 💕

Joanne, one goat I dubbed The Host as he immediately presented himself in front of me and then showed me the way to the dispenser. He knew people, how to engage them, how to manipulate them. And yes, miniature goats are even cuter than the full size ones. From the looks of these goats, no one has not fed them. Just saying…

Janet, these goats weren’t aggressive, but I realize not everyone is comfortable around them. I’m not keen on feeding horses with their big teeth, but goats make me smile. They nibble. Really, they do.

WOULD YOU FEED THE GOATS A HANDFUL OF GOAT CHOW FROM YOUR HAND? WOULD YOU PUT IT ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THEM?
OR WOULD YOU WALK BY AND NOT FEED THEM AT ALL?

I'd love to feed them from my hand thanks. BUT. I had a rather off-putting encounter with a big old horse a couple of years ago and maybe I'd get nervous and just toss the feed to them. I mean, I approached the horse properly and it nuzzled and snorted me. BUT. I put the apple I was giving in in the flat palm of my hand and the sod still bit me. Horse bites aren't pleasant. I mean all those BIG ASS TEETH. :O !

But they're small and very cute, so maybe I'd be brave and feed them. I HOPE I'd notice they were back there and not walk on by. Goats are so cute, particularly tame and friendly ones. The Pastor's Sarky Wife and you have something in common now…have you read her blog? She loves goats too. ❤

They are adorable. I would feed them by hand. I didn’t grow up around goats (I’m a city kid), but I’ve had enough dogs and cats licking my hand after feeding them scraps. So a goat would add to my animal feeding repertoire. 😀

L. Marie, I enjoy feeding goats. When they nibble kibble off your hand it’s the best. Their eyes are unusual, while their ability to get humans to feed them is spectacular. You definitely need to add goats to your animal feeding repertoire. Love that phrase.

Anne, most people who’ve commented have said they’d feed the goats. The hand sanitizer seems to be a determining factor in the decision. This garden nursery had it going on with these goats– who charmed me & I suspect everyone else who finds them.

I would totally feed the goats. I love petting zoos and other places that you actually get to touch and feed the animals. I know, like in the case of tiger petting, that some of these are really bad places but surely a nice little miniature goat farm cannot be bad.

I pet and fed the buffalo on a ranch in Wyoming. It had both my parents freaking out because they have gigantic tongues (the buffalo, not my parents) but I’ll put up with a little buffalo spittle for the opportunity to pet one. And I love to feed the fish at our local fish hatchery. The last time I met he most beautiful fish that I wanted to take home and hug him and squeeze him and cook him up in a little butter and sliced almonds.

I agree with you that a miniature goat herd in the middle of a garden nursery is not animal abuse. The tiger thing, I dunno.

The closest I’ve been to bison is a 16 oz chub pack of ground meat. I don’t know if I’d pet one, they seem LARGE and as such they might consider me edible. As for having an ulterior motive while befriending fish, only you could do that! 😁

Are you kidding? I wanna know where the goats with the free goat food are so I can make a road trip just to feed them! 😉
I LOVE goats, and wish I could have a couple, but the stupid city has a stupid grandfather clause on farm animals and so no goats for me 😦
Yes! Always feed the goats!
And bonus points to you for not suffering traffic AND thinking of good ways to spend the extra time! 🙂

I wonder if any of my neighbors would even care. I wouldn’t keep a rooster, but I bet my neighbors wouldn’t mind goats. Sigh.
We’re all animal lovers… Sigh.
But yes, in most places, neighbor relations could get ugly over roaming farm animals! 😛

I’m am so incredibly jealous! A nursery with goats!!?? I would not only feed them the free food, I’d bring them all sorts of (owner approved) treats… just to feel their nibbley lips on my palm. We had a backyard goat in the area once and I always went out of my way to visit him or her on my walks.

Janis, these goats were friendly as in FRIENDLY! I couldn’t help but be charmed by them. I’ve fed goats before, putting quarter after quarter into the machine, but not this time. I’ve never lived in a neighborhood with any backyard farm animals, but I know I’d get a kick out of it.

Little goats are adorable, but their rectangular pupils get a bit creepy if I look at them too long. Certainly wouldn’t say no to feeding them out of my own hand though! Sounds like a half hour well spent 🙂

The goats are adorable. I’d probably try to pet them, but might not actually feed them. Whenever I’m someplace where there are goats, lots of children are generally feeding them, so I assume that they get plenty of food without me feeding them.

nance, I can understand how a traumatic childhood goat encounter could turn you off of them for life. The fainting ones are funny, poor things… but you gotta wonder about the genetics that make them do what they do.

I would definitely feed them from my hand, esp if they took the time and energy to walk me to the feed station. That took some intellectual gender and work. As opposed to yesterday when a panhandler approached me in my car and asked for money for food. I shave a difficult time handing over money to panhandlers/free loaders on the street. Some folk don’t at all. That probably makes me a bad person in some folks eyes. But with ‘help wanted’ signs posted everywhere, my first thought is, ‘get a job’. The second thought is, ‘dammit, big government has made a dependent society of a large group of folks’.

srbottch, most of the commenters here have said that they’d feed the goats out of hand. Such a kindly group we are! I agree that it was smart of the Host Goat to lead me to the dispenser, then show me the Purell just in case I had any hesitations. I hadn’t thought of these goats in contrast to panhandlers on the streets. These goats seemed emotionally stable, while many of the people asking for handouts who I encounter on city streets seem to have some mental issues. Or addictions. Difficult to know what to do in those moments. 🤷‍♀️

Oh yes, from the hand my all means. Nice of them to offer Purell That’s new. I am curious about how the food is regulated, so the goats get enough or not too much. ??? Perhaps their daily ration is put out in those dispensers and they get whatever is left at the end of the day? That works for me. Nice fun post, Ally, yet again. 🙂

Janet, I’m guessing that the goats daily ration of goat chow is put in the dispenser then whatever is left when the store closes is given to them. These goats were plump, so I don’t think they worry about where their next meal is coming from.

This is an easy one because I feed two dwarf Nigerian goats every single day. This morning they enjoyed delicious banana peel from my cereal and a while later they had a few raspberry bushes. Who doesn’t love dwarf goats? 🙂